d stand there with his double gun, ready to send a
couple of shots at the brute's muzzle, when it tried to get in, as he
felt sure that it would.

A minute--two minutes--passed, but he heard nothing, though he did not
feel surprised at this, for he knew from experience the soft velvety way
in which the animals would creep up after their prey. At any moment he
felt that the great, cat-like head and paws would appear at the opening,
which would just be big enough for creeping through; and unless his two
shots killed or wounded desperately, he knew that his fate was sealed.

"I must be firm, and not nervous, or I shall miss," he said to himself;
but how was he to be firm when gazing wildly at that narrow opening,
momentarily expecting to feel the puff of hot breath from the savage
brute's jaws, and be face to face with the terrible danger?

He knew he must be firm, and not lose his nerve; but how could he master
his senses at a time when he was watching that grey opening, with his
eyes beginning to swim, and the cold perspiration gathering upon his
forehead?

All at once there was a sound behind him, and he swung round, fully
believing that the stealthy creature had bounded on to the roof, and was
about to try to obtain entrance down through the big, low, granite-built
chimney, which had been made for cooking purposes, but never used.

"You wretch! how you startled me," muttered Dyke, as he saw that the dog
had caused his alarm by making a bound toward the door, with the thick
hair about its neck standing up in a bristling way, as it snuffled about
the bottom of the entry, and then uttered a low whine, and looked up at
its master, who felt that the lioness must be there.

Dyke turned to the window again, annoyed with his want of firmness,
feeling now that if the enemy had tried to take him in the rear like
that, he must have heard the bound up on to the iron roof.

Resuming his watchful position by the window, he waited again, and now
as he stood, with every nerve on the strain, he began to feel that the
inaction and suspense were more painful than trying to attack; so taking
a long, deep breath, he advanced closer to the window, with finger on
trigger, ready to fire on the instant.

Closer and closer, and now resting the barrels on the sill, gradually
protruding the gun muzzle a little, till he could look out between the
open wooden bars, unglazed for the sake of coolness, a small shutter
standing against the sid